Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations

Also called: Bar helper, Food runner, Cook's helper, Food preparer, Caterer helper, Kitchen helper, Bartender helper, Cafeteria helper, Camp cook's helper, Fast-food preparer, Street food vendor, Food service helper

Food counter attendants and food preparers prepare, heat and finish cooking simple food items and serve customers at food counters. Kitchen helpers, food service helpers and dishwashers clear tables, clean kitchen areas, wash dishes, and perform various other activities to assist workers who prepare or serve food and beverages. They are employed by restaurants, cafés, hotels, fast food outlets, cafeterias, hospitals and other establishments.

Main tasks

• Food counter attendants and food preparers
• Take customers' orders
• Clean, peel, slice and trim foodstuffs using manual and electric appliances
• Use deep fryer, grill, oven, dispensers and other equipment to prepare fast food items such as sandwiches, hamburgers, fries, salads, ice cream dishes, milkshakes and other beverages
• Portion, assemble, and wrap food or place it directly on plates for service to patrons, and package take-out food
• Use equipment to prepare hot beverages such as coffee and tea specialties
• Serve customers at counters or buffet tables
• Stock refrigerators and salad bars and keep records of the quantities of food used

How to become one

Some secondary school education is usually required. On-the-job training is provided.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Pay · Outlook

• Median pay: $32,273 a year The middle half earn $30,225 to $35,763.
• About 383,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 422,600 are projected by 2033. (+10.3%)
• Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Related jobs

• Food and beverage servers
• Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale

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Sources

• Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03